Thousands of Australians have gathered outside Victoria’s parliament building to protest proposed laws that would see Victoria State Premier Dan Andrews given unprecedented pandemic-related power, as well as mandatory vaccination. The protesters began to gather around midday, with some chanting “kill the bill,” and with many holding signs expressing their views. Some of the signs read: “Save our children,” and “Vaxtoria.” A woman addressed the crowd just after 2 p.m., saying the proposed Andrews government bill was “unlawful” and “needs to be invalidated.” The protesters pledged to return to hold a similar protest next weekend and march across the city to the governor’s residence. Victorians have endured some of the longest lockdowns in the world, along with harsh restrictions. Civic pushback against those restrictions has been met with martial force, erupting in September into days of protests and unrests that saw police officers fire non-lethal rounds at protesters. The Public …